Retired business owner is featured speaker at NL Memorial Day service

NEW LONDON — Village resident Ken Long, a retired business owner and member of both American Legion Post 292 and the New London school board, was the speaker for New London’s Memorial Day service.

After sharing memories of his time in the Army in Vietnam and the death of one of his buddies, he said, “We are here to honor and remember those men and women who served the military and gave their lives for their country.”

He concluded by reciting lyrics from Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.”

Members of Boy Scout Troop 217 honored the memory of Air Force veteran Leonard Leech, who died in the past year. He started the tradition of lining the main streets of the village with flags during certain holidays, and the scouts first shared and then took over that tradition from him.

Scoutmaster Terry Knudson said we should remember, “This piece of fabric doesn’t necessarily represent the government, but it is the flag of we the people. May the flags forever wave in New London, Ohio.” Martha Ackerman, a long-time friend of Leech’s who helped him with his flag project, received a t-shirt in his memory from the scouts.

Other participants in the ceremony included the high school band, Pastor Brian Ayres, Pastor Toby Thomas, Legion Post 292 Commander Dave Smith, Officer of the Day John Roeder, Legion Auxiliary member Nancy Longbrake and poppy girl Raeann Mitchell.